Weakened balcony falls to the ground

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The balcony at Wood Ridge Apartments determined to be unsound on Wednesday night fell to the ground midday Thursday.

Some 25 residents were displaced from their apartments after the balcony started to buckle at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Austin Fire Department said residents at the building the 1900 block of Burton Drive noticed the problem and said they have told apartment officials about it in the past.

The balcony was being held up by metal rods.

Apartment complex officials said Wednesday night they would try to relocate residents into any vacant units. If there aren't enough units, Red Cross was to help with placement.

A city code enforcement officer told KXAN on Thursday that the complex of at least five buildings has been the subject of 51 complaints over several decades. Not all of the complaints involved structural issues. Instead they ran the gamut of rodents in units to day-to-day maintenance matters, the inspector said.

One resident on the property around midday Thursday said he had nearly been hit several days ago by a board that fell from the balcony that collapsed. He notified the property manager's office, the resident said.

Because of the structural collapse six more units which are facing or parallel are being evacuated Thursday due to the collapse.

No one was injured in the incident.